Adjustable Shoelace Fastener and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

An improved method for fastening shoes with shoelaces having a first end and an opposing second end includes a spanning member having a hole to accommodate the first end, and a slot preferably sized for an interference fit with the second end. The first end is passed through the hole and knotted, preventing it from passing back through the hole. The second end is pulled to tighten the shoelace, knotted and anchored in the slot, maintaining, the taut shoelace securely in place. With multiple holes and multiple slots, the tautness of a shoelace can be adjusted. The spanning member remains in place on a shoe when not in use, held by the knot in the first end. For convenience, a user may tie another knot in the second end, with a loop sized to receive as finger, for easily grasping the second end and sliding it into a slot.

BACKGROUND

Shoelaces remain conventional for fastening most footwear. Manipulating a shoelace to tie the ends together in the traditional double slip knot, or similar configuration can be challenging for small children to learn and execute, and equally challenging for persons suffering limited motor skills, for example due to arthritis or a neurological disorder. For this reason, mechanisms have been developed in the art to tighten shoes on a wearer without the need for tying a particular slip knot in the laces each time the user dons the shoes.

Although many mechanisms exist for securing shoes on a wearer without laces at all, (e.g., hook and loop straps, gusseted elastic at the tongue, etc.), shoelaces remain ubiquitous for dress shoes, casual shoes, sport shoes, boots and others. For this reason apparatus have been developed to speed up and simplify the process of securing shoelaces. These apparatus typically consist of a small fastener piece having openings or slots to accommodate shoelaces. In most cases, the shoelaces must travel through several holes and slots in order to promote retention, which makes them difficult to use. Additionally, they frequently require laces to be wrapped around structures on the apparatus as well as moving in and out of holes and slots.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fastening mechanism for laced shoes having a simple design that is inexpensive to manufacture. Another object is to provide a fastening mechanism that is easily installed on a shoe and which allows a shoelace to be easily and quickly affixed under tension. A further object is to provide a fastener that can remain affixed to a shoe when not in use, and which is customizable according to preference.

SUMMARY

An improved method is presented for fastening as tie shoe being worn on a user's foot, the shoe having a shoelace with a first end and an opposing second end. In order to practice the method, a spanning member is provided having a hole sized to allow the first end of the shoelace to pass through the hole, and having a slot sized for an interference fit with the second end of the shoelace. The first end is passed through the hole, and a knot thrilled in the first end to prevent the first end from passing back through the hole. The second end is then tied in a knot and pulled in order to draw the shoelace taut. The second end is then slid into the slot, which anchors the second end in the slot and maintains the shoelace taut to secure the tie shoe on the user's foot.

In one embodiment of the method, the spanning member includes multiple slots allowing the position of the second end, and tautness of the shoe, to be adjusted. Since the second end is adjustable by virtue of slot position, a user may form a knot in the second end adjacent the slot to further anchor the second end in the slot. It may be preferable for the user to also form a loop in the second end. The loop is preferably sized to receive a finger of the user for easily grasping the second end and sliding it into a slot.

To increase adjustability and tautness, a user may take the additional step of passing the first end through a slot before passing it through the hole. This has the action of taking up more of the shoelace and allowing additional tightening when the fastener is placed on a shoe. After wearing the shoe, a user can disengage the second end from the slot to loosen the shoelace. By leaving the first end attached to the spanning member when unfastening the tie shoe, the fastener is prevented from being lost and is always ready for use. This is helpful for the general public in addition to those for whom tying laced shoes is difficult.

To make securing and loosening the shoelace using the fastener easier, the hole is preferably formed closer to the medial side of the tie shoe, and the slot formed closer to lateral side of the tie shoe. This way the fastener is always oriented so that a user's hand need not cross over the shoe to reach the second end for placing it in the slot.

In another embodiment the method of fastening a tie shoe having a shoelace with a first end and an opposing second end includes providing a spanning member having a hole sized to allow the first end of the shoelace to pass through the hole and a slot sized to accommodate the second end. The first end is passed through the hole and a knot formed in the first end to prevent it from passing back through the hole. A loop is formed in the second end and the second end pulled taut so that the shoelace is also taut. The second end is then placed in the slot to prevent the loop from passing through the slot, thereby maintaining the shoelace taut and securing the shoe on the user's foot.

As with the first embodiment, the spanning member may have multiple slots, and the first end can be passed through one of the slots to effectively shorten the shoelace. Similarly, the second end can be removed from the slot to loosen the shoelace while leaving the first end attached to the spanning member.

Structurally, the fastener can be described as a device for adjustably tensioning a shoelace in a laced shoe having an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet, with the shoelace having a first end and an opposing second end. The fastener includes a spanning member having a perimeter and at least one hole extending through the spanning member. The hole is sized to allow the first end to pass freely through the hole. A slot extends from the perimeter inward into the spanning member, and the slot is sized to hold the second end in an interference fit when a user secures it in a slot.

In a preferred embodiment the hole is sized to prevent as knot tied on the first end from passing through the hole. To help make the shoelace as taut as possible, the spanning member may be elongated, spanning across the upper medial eyelet and the upper lateral eyelet of the shoe. To help ensure proximity to the eyelets, the spanning member may be contoured to nest against the shoe. For adjustability, the the spanning, member may have multiple slots, and the slots may having entrances along opposite sides of the perimeter, which a user can engage according to preference.

Preferably, the slot and the second end are sized relative to each other to prevent the second end from sliding through the slot when the shoe is worn. To facilitate a tight grip on the second end, the slot may have a narrowed entrance at the perimeter, or it may have a reduced width at the terminal end to constrict the second end and hold the shoelace in a taut position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an adjustable shoelace fastener.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the shoelace fastener holding a shoelace.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the shoelace fastener having opposing slots.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the shoelace fastener affixed to a shoe.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of the shoelace fastener with bilaterally symmetrical holes and slots.

FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of the shoelace fastener with bilaterally symmetrical holes and slots.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the shoelace fastener with a shoelace installed to take up extra slack.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the shoelace Fastener having an area for displaying indicia.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the shoelace fastener having a fanciful shape.

DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided n the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fastening device 10 for fixing a shoelace 12 under tension is shown. The shoelace 12 is a single string or cord having a first end 14 and a second end 16. The first end 14 and the second end 16 are inserted into a spanning member 18 which holds them under tension. The spanning member 18 may be a substantially flat planar piece or may have a substantial thickness as shown. The spanning member 18 is defined by a perimeter 20 extending around the spanning member's 18.

One or more holes 22 extend through the spanning member 18 and are disposed inward of the perimeter 20, and one or more slots 24 are formed in the spanning member 18 extending inward of the perimeter 20. In order to secure the shoestring 12 in the spanning member 18, a knot 26 is tied near the first end 14. With the first end 14 prevented from passing through a hole 22 due to the knot 26, the shoelace 12 may be tightened and the second end 16 inserted into a preferred slot 24 and fixed in place. The second end 16 must also be knotted (not shown) to prevent the second end 16 from travelling back through the slot 24.

Although the slots 24 may take a variety of forms, including straight walled slots or V-shaped slots (not shown), in a preferred embodiment the slots 24 have a narrowed entrance 28 to prevent the second end 16 from exiting the slot 24, and may have an enlarged terminal end 30. The enlarged terminal end 30 also helps prevent the second end 16 front exiting the slot 24. To help with inserting the shoelace 12 into a slot 24, the slots 24 may include bevels 32 to provide a tapered entrance to assist with seating the second end 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, in a second embodiment 100 the spanning member 102 may have the holes 22 and slots 24 of the first embodiment, and include one or more opposing slots 104 on an opposite sides of the perimeter 106 of the spanning member 102. Also shown in FIG. is a loop 36 formed in the second end 16, which allows a user (not shown) to easily place the second end 16 in a slot 24 with only one finger not shown). Since the loop 36 is larger in circumference than the shoelace 12, the loop 36 can be used in instances when a greater amount of tension in the shoelace 12 is required. The loop also can be used to release the second end 16 with just one finger.

Referring to FIG. 4, in a third embodiment of the fastener 200, the spanning member 202 may be elongated for installation on larger shoes 38, boots or similar footwear. In this embodiment vertical slots 204 are shown at a distance from the hole 206. The vertical slots 204 receive the second end 16 from the front of the spanning member 202. Here the shoelace 12 is shown in an untied state to illustrate that the spanning member 202 may be permanently left on the shoe 38 so a user can secure and unsecure the shoelace 12 by simply affixing and removing the second end 16 from a vertical slot 204.

In this embodiment, as with the others, the spanning member 202 presents the vertical slots 204 on the lateral side 44 of the shoe 38 while presenting the hole 206 on the medial side 42 of the shoe 38. The shoe 38 can be more easily fastened because a user need not reach across the shoe 38 to reach the loop 36 (not shown) and place it in a vertical slot 204. A user can simply knot the second end 16 and place it in a vertical slot 204 as desired. Once the second end 16 is knotted no further lace tying or knotting is necessary to put on and take off the shoe 38. If a user prefers to have the second end 16 on the medial side 42 of the shoe, the spanning member 202 may simply be reversed.

Referring to FIG. 5A, in fourth embodiment, it may be desirable for the fastener 300 to fit either a right sided or left sided shoe. In this embodiment, in order for the spanning member 302 to effectively anchor on the shoelace 12 (not shown) in either orientation, holes 304 are disposed on both sides of the spanning member 302, with center slots 308 disposed between them. Preferably, the holes 304 and center slots 308 are arranged bilaterally, so a shoelace 12 can be placed under the same degree of tension regardless of the orientation of the spanning member 302.

Referring to 5B, the spanning member 300 is shown in side view having an arc allowing the spanning member to present two or more levels of tension to a wearer. First, the spanning member 300 may be installed complimentary to the shoe 36 (not shown), which provides a less flexible degree of tension on the shoelace 12 (not shown). Alternatively, the spanning member 300 may be installed so that the arc bends away from the shoe 36. In this manner, flexibility in the spanning member 302 allows the spanning member 302 to flex back and forth toward the shoe 36. This configuration is useful for instance in the case of joggers, to avoid pinching of the shoe 16 when running, increasing circulation and comfort for the wearer. Also shown in FIG. 5B, the center slots 308 may have exaggerated tapered entrances 310 to make sliding the second end 16 into and out of the center slots 308 easier.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a fifth embodiment of the fastener 400, it is possible to use the spanning member 402 to reduce the amount of excess shoelace 12, effectively shortening the shoelace 12 by passing the first end 14 of the shoelace 12 through the hole 404 and also passing it through one or more angled slots 406 disposed at a distance from the hole 404. By having more of the shoelace 12 taken up by running the first end 14 through the angled slots 406, when the second end 16 is anchored in a non-angled slot 408 across the spanning member 402, more tension is placed on the shoelace 12.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a sixth embodiment, the fastener 500 includes a spanning member 502 having a generally oblong shape, and including an enlarged area 504 between the hole 506 and a side slot 508. The enlarged area 504 is a convenient location for affixing indicia 510 such as a brand logo, image, safety information, emergency information, or I.D. information. Because the spanning member 502 will typically be located at the top of the shoe 38 (not shown), any indicia 510 can be easily seen. Contemplated indicia 510 also include educational images for use on children's shoes, such as displaying ‘right’ or ‘left’, or identification information including an adult's phone number for example.

Referring to FIG. 8, in another embodiment, the fastener 600 may include a spanning member 602 having a perimeter 604 made in a predetermined decorative shape to make attractive and fanciful adornments for a shoe 38 (not shown). Although the exemplary embodiment is a round button, the spanning member 602 could be made having a more complex perimeter 604 pattern reflecting a particular theme, such as an animal, or character. In the illustrated embodiment, the hole 606 and an side slot 608 are shown incorporated into a disk shaped spanning member 602.

Having described the devices of the preferred embodiments, now their operation, function and use is discussed.

In order to secure shoes using the first embodiment fastener 10. The first end 14 of a shoelace 12 on a laced shoe 38 is inserted through the hole 22. A knot 26 is formed in the first end 14 so that it cannot pass back through the hole 22. Preferably, this operation is performed close to the shoe 38. With the first end 14 fixed in place, the shoelace 12 is drawn to a desired degree of tautness. The second end 16 is then knotted and placed in a slot 24. It may be desirable for a user to tie a loop 36 in the second end 16 so the second end 16 can simply be grasped by a user's linger. This also has the benefit of preventing the second end 16 from traveling hack through the slot 24.

When a user desires to remove the shoe 38, the second end 16 can be simply slid out of the slot, allowing the shoelace 12 to be loosened. Because the spanning member 18 is held in place tin the shoe 38 by virtue of the knot 26, which will not travel through the hole 22, the spanning member 18 can be left on the shoe 38 when not in use until it needs to be worn again. Also, because the knot in the second end 16 can be left in place, a user need not re-tie the shoelace 12 after initial installation.

In this manner, the fastener 10 is helpful for very young children, who can utilize the invention to secure their shoes without having to learn complicated tying techniques. The fastener 10 is also helpful for people with deficient motor skills, or anyone desiring to fasten their shoes using one hand, or even one finger. By not having to have extra lacing material, there is a cost savings to manufacturers, and users need not tie laces to prevent then from dragging on the ground.

To fasten a shoe 38 using the second embodiment fastener 100, a user has the option and may prefer sliding the second end 16 into the opposing slot 104 when convenient to do so. For fastening larger shoes, such as boots, the third embodiment fastener 200 may be used. In this embodiment, the spanning member 202 is arced to nest against the shoe 38. The vertical slots 204 make installing the second end 16 easier. To fasten a shoe according to the fourth embodiment fastener 300, the flexible arced spanning member 302 may be used. In this embodiment, the spanning member 302 may be placed so that it nests against the shoe 38 for a close fit, or it may be reversed. If reversed, flexibility in the spanning member 302 allows it to flex with movement, which is useful in activities like running to avoid pinching a user's foot at the top of the shoe 38.

To use the fifth embodiment fastener 400, a user passes the first end 14 through the spanning member 402 more than once, by inserting the first end through the hole 404 and also through the slanted slot 406 before knotting the first end 14. With more of the shoelace 12 taken up by the spanning member 402, when the second end 16 is knotted and inserted in the vertical slot 408, the shoelace 12 is prevented from dragging on the ground. When using the sixth embodiment fastener 500, the spanning member 502 is affixed in a similar manner, by threading the first end 14 through the hole 506 and knotting it, then knotting the second end 16 and placing it in the slot 508. This is done so in a manner placing the spanning member 502 up against the shoe 38 making the indicia 510 clearly visible. In a similar manner, the seventh embodiment fastener 600 is installed in the same way, placing the fancifully shaped spanning member 602 against the shoe 38 to present the decorative perimeter 604 shape to viewers,

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the Invention are sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is understood, however, that the detail of the preferred embodiments presented are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, in as much as equivalents thereof and other modifications which come within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A device for adjustably tensioning a shoelace in a shoe having an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet, the shoelace having a knotted first end, an opposing knotted second end, and an unknotted portion between the knotted first end and the opposing knotted second end, the device comprising: a flat spanning member having a longitudinal axis, the flat spanning member consisting of a planar top side, an opposing planar bottom side and, a perimeter wall between them; a hole extending through the flat spanning member from the planar top side to the opposing planar bottom side, the hole positioned inward of the perimeter wall, the hole sized to prevent the knotted first end from passing through the hole; at least one slot extending inward from the perimeter wall, the at least one slot disposed in the flat spanning member such that the at least one slot extends laterally away from the longitudinal axis in a direction perpendicular to the hole and the at least one slot sized to hold the opposing knotted second end in the at least one slot; the at least one slot extending no less than half way across the flat spanning member; and wherein the hole is sized to hold the knotted first end against the planar top side and the at least one slot is sized to hold the opposing knotted second end against the planar top side, such that the unknotted portion is disposed against the planar bottom side along the longitudinal axis.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The device of claim 11 wherein the flat spanning member is elongated, spanning across the upper medial eyelet and the upper lateral eyelet of the shoe.
 14. The device of claim 11 wherein the flat spanning member is arced along the longitudinal axis.
 15. The device of claim 11 wherein the flat spanning member has multiple slots.
 16. The device of claim 11 wherein the flat spanning member has opposing slots having entrances along opposing sides of the flat spanning member extending inward from the perimeter.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The device of claim 11 wherein the at least one slot has a narrowed entrance at the perimeter wall, and the at least one slot is slanted away from the direction of pull of the opposing knotted second end.
 19. The device of claim 11 wherein the at least one slot extends laterally at less than ninety degrees from the hole.
 20. An apparatus for adjustably tensioning a shoelace in a laced shoe, the shoe having an upper medial eyelet and an upper lateral eyelet, the shoelace having a knotted first end an opposing knotted second end, and an unknotted portion between the knotted first end and the opposing knotted second end, the apparatus comprising: a spanning member having a length along a longitudinal axis and a width, wherein the length is no less than two times greater than the width; the longitudinal axis bisecting the upper medial eyelet and bisecting the upper lateral eyelet; the spanning member having a planar top face, the planar top face facing away from the shoe; the spanning member having a planar bottom face, the planar bottom face facing toward the shoe; the planar top face and the planar bottom face separated by a perimeter wall extending peripherally around the spanning member between the planar top face and the planar bottom face; a hole formed in the top face and formed in the bottom face, the hole extending through the spanning member, the hole disposed inward of the perimeter wall, and the longitudinal axis bisecting the hole; at least one slot extending inward from the perimeter wall of the spanning member, the at least one slot extending lateral to the longitudinal axis between the planar top face and the planar bottom face; the at least one slot having a narrowed entrance, and an enlarged rounded terminal end; the enlarged rounded terminal end substantially equivalent in diameter and curvature to the hole; the longitudinal axis bisecting the enlarged rounded terminal end wherein the hole is sized to hold the knotted first end against the top side and the at least one slot is sized to hold the opposing knotted second end against the planar top face, with the unknotted portion disposed against the bottom face. 